My Mo-Town
CREATIVITY MEETS COMMERCE THE NEW ARTISAN ACADEMY AT MHS
GIFT THE GARDEN STATE AT JUST JERSEY
MHS football players started the Colonial Cancer Foundation to pay tribute to their fathers by giving back to the community.
Morristown High School’s new Artisan Academy, creativity meets commerce.
Jersey offers a curated collection of goods from local makers and artisans, along with a healthy dose of New Jersey pride.
SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS
aAS THE SCHOOL YEAR winds down, we wanted to use this issue to celebrate just a few of the people in town who support our kids and their dreams. We explore Morristown High School’s brand-new Artisan Academy, launching this fall. The dream of two MHS teachers, the academy has the enthusiastic support of the principal, the Morristown Education Foundation, the Lauren & Emily Fallia Foundation, and other community stakeholders.
It will offer MHS students the instruction and inspiration to turn all kinds of art into thriving businesses after high school.
For our cover story, we spent some time talking to a group of MHS alumni and former football players who formed the Colonial Cancer Society. We are inspired by how they turned personal tragedy—many of them lost their fathers to cancer—into life-altering gifts to others in the community. Through a partnership with the Morristown Education Foundation, the group, founded in 2025, gives a $10,000 college scholarship to an MHS senior whose life has been impacted by cancer.
We also lean into some of the joy June brings, visiting local institution Just Jersey to discuss the importance of buying local and to gather some gift ideas to help you celebrate all the dads and grads in your life.
As publisher and as someone who cares deeply about this town, I feel grateful to share stories like these with you. They remind me why I do what I do and why this magazine matters. Enjoy whatever you’re celebrating this month!
Warm regards,
Maryam Taghipour
Publisher, My Mo-Town
Maryam.Taghipour@wainscotmedia.com @mymotownmag
MAGAZINE MyMo-Town
Publisher
Maryam Taghipour
Maryam.Taghipour@wainscotmedia.com
Editor and Lead Writer
Christine Bockelman
Writers
Mary Lynn Becza
Kate Cherichello Tente
Photographer Steve Hockstein
WAINSCOT MEDIA
Chairman Carroll V. Dowden
President and CEO
Mark Dowden
SVP, Group Publisher, Regional Thomas Flannery
VP, Content Strategy
Maria Regan
Creative Director
Kijoo Kim
Executive Editor
Elaine Quilici
Art Director
Rosemary O’Connell
Advertising Services Director Jacquelynn Fischer
Operations Director
Catherine Rosario
Production Designer
Chris Ferrante
Print Production Manager
Fern Meshulam
Advertising Production Associate Griff Dowden
My Mo-Town magazine is published by Wainscot Media. Serving residents of Morristown and Morris Township, the magazine is distributed monthly via U.S. mail. Articles and advertisements contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.
Have a story idea?
Email the editor: Christine.Bockelman@wainscotmedia.com.
Copyright 2026 by Wainscot Media LLC. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.
Farm Fresh
June brings the welcome return of fresh produce at two Morristown farmer’s markets. Opening June 18, the Grow It Green Urban Market is tucked behind the Lafayette Learning Center (31 Hazel St., growitgreenmorristown.org) and is open Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. It features vegetables sustainably grown on their chemical-free farm, as well as fresh eggs.
The Morristown Farmer’s Market, produced by the Morristown Partnership, reopens on June 21 and runs every Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. through November 22. Located behind the Morristown Post Office, the market offers local honey, fresh-caught fish, kombucha, and, of course, lots of fresh fruits and veggies. (Morristown Parking Authority Lot 10 J; intersection of Spring and Morris Streets.; morristown-nj.org/morristownfarmersmarket)
Celebrate Dad IN MO-TOWN
This Father’s Day (June 21), there are lots of options for celebrating the dads and father figures in our lives. Here are just two ways to show them some love:
• Take dad to play some of the more than 100 arcade games at Morristown Game Vault (22 South St., morristowngamevault.com), including classics like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, Daytona USA, or Space Invaders.
• Reserve a table at 1776 Morristown (67 East Park Pl., 1776morristown.com), where dad will be gifted a complimentary golf suite at Suites at ’76, as well as a $25 food and beverage credit that can be used on a future visit. If you’d rather enjoy the suite with the family on Father’s Day, the same deal applies—no suite fee and a $25 food and beverage credit for use that day.
Top: Grow It Green Urban Farm
Bottom: Produce from Grow it Green Urban Farm
The Suites at ’76
CHEERS TO MY MO-TOWN MAGAZINE!
In April, My Mo-Town Publisher Maryam Taghipour, Wainscot Media President and CEO Mark Dowden, My Mo-Town staff, and advertising partners gathered for a lively celebration of the magazine’s launch at Dublin Pub.
Top left: My Mo-Town publisher Maryam Taghipour, Mary Lima, Gabby Morales, Wainscot Group Publisher Ed Burns
Top right: Maryam Taghipour and Susan Brierly Bush
Above: Joseph Cadicina and Maryam Taghipour
Right: Sarah “Ginge” Calhoun and Maryam Taghipour
Far right: Enjoying drinks and conversation at Dublin Pub in the heart of Morristown
Celebrating JUNETEENTH
In partnership with Morris Arts, Arts in the Atrium, and Mayo Performing Arts Center, the Morris Museum will present “Juneteenth Arts Celebration: Night at The Morris Museum” on June 18. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., the evening will include a special curator-led tour of works on view in the museum’s indoor and outdoor spaces, as well as a presentation by educational theater company Living Voices that explores the story of a young, free Black colonist fighting in the Revolutionary War.
On June 11, Art in the Atrium hosts a reception for “From Many to One: A New Tribe,” which features the work of M. Gasby Brown, Philemona Williamson, Beverly McCutcheon, and more than 40 other Black, AfroCaribbean, and Afro-Latino artists. This exhibit “reflects the richness of our collective story, the resilience of our communities, and the power of art to connect us across histories and generations,” says Simone Renee Craig, CEO, Art in the Atrium. Curated by Onnie Strother and Nette Thomas, the exhibit, which features collage, painting, and photography, runs through September 18 at Atrium Gallery (10 Court St., Morristown). For more information, gallery opening hours, and to RSVP for the reception, visit artintheatrium.org.
For more information on Juneteeth events in Morristown, visit juneteenthartscelebrationcom.wordpress.com.
Top left: Beverly McCutcheon’s “I Am Mariposa” mixed collage is part of her Wallflower Portrait series, which explores themes of invisibility and underappreciation.
Left: “Music to My Ears” by self-taught, Atlanta-based Keshay Devine-Tucker
Above: Philemona Williamson creates postmodern paintings focusing on pre-adolescents and their transition to adulthood.
At the ribbon cutting in April, from left: Red Bull Head of Global Soccer Jurgen Klopp, NYNJ Host Committee Board Chair Tammy Murphy, Mayor of Morris Township Donna Guariglia, Red Bull New York President Marc de Grandpré, RWJBarnabas Health President and CEO Mark E. Manigan, FOX5 New York Sports Anchor Tina Cervasio, Red Bull New York Head of Sport Julian de Guzman, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber
PITCH PERFECT
A state-of-the-art soccer training facility for Red Bull New York opens in Morris Township.
The most innovative soccer training facility in North America recently opened, right in our own backyard. Set on more than 80 acres in Morris Township, the RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center boasts an 88,400-square-foot main building, eight full training pitches (five heated for year-round play), an innovation lab, academic spaces for youth players in the Red Bulls Academy program, and more. Outdoor areas are equipped with high-tech training cameras that can track players from multiple angles.
During the World Cup this summer, the center will serve as headquarters for Brazil’s national team. After that, it will be home to Red Bull New York, one of Major League Soccer’s 30 clubs. The new performance
center will support the team’s long-term growth by centralizing all levels of the organization—youth programs through pros.
“This facility brings our entire pathway together, from academy to first team, and creates an environment where players can train, develop, and compete at the highest level every day,” says Marc de Grandpré, President and General Manager, Red Bull New York.
“What began as a shared vision is now a
world-class facility that will support elite athlete performance, advance innovation in sports health, and serve as a source of pride for our community,” says Mark E. Manigan, President and CEO, RWJBarnabas Health. “This partnership reflects our deep commitment to building a healthier New Jersey—on and off the field—and we are proud to invest in a state-of-the-art facility that will inspire excellence for generations to come.”
The RWJBarnabas Health Red Bulls Performance Center is the most innovative soccer training facility in North America.
Top left: Executive Chef Jordan Petriello plates the charred clam appetizer.
Top right: The potato and leek croquettes are part of Cotto’s spring menu.
Bottom right: The pasta for the maccheroni al pettine takes about three hours to make by hand.
Starting From Scratch
At Cotto, modern Italian cuisine is crafted in-house and served with style.
THE KITCHEN opens early each morning at Cotto. Before many in Morristown are even awake, bread makers have begun baking Cotto’s pull-apart focaccia and schiacciata, a thin Tuscan flatbread, that will be used for sandwiches at lunchtime and as part of a decadent, charred clam appetizer—a special on the spring menu—come dinner.
Cotto is a scratch kitchen, meaning everything, from all that bread to the orange consommé on the olive oil cake, is prepared from scratch each day. “The food you are eating at 6 p.m. was most likely started at 6 a.m.,” says Christy Baldassare who, along with her husband John Baldassare, is a majority owner of Cotto.
The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Jordan Petriello, a New Jersey native who previously worked at Michelin-starred Rezdôra in New York City and Il Nido in Marlboro, New Jersey.
He defines Cotto’s cuisine as modern Italian and, more specifically, “anti red sauce.” He explains: “We’re focused on cuisine from the whole of Italy, using highquality ingredients and up-to-date techniques, and being adventurous with the menu.”
INVENTIVE OFFERINGS
Petriello points to the pork chop on the spring menu as an example of Cotto’s elevated and inventive Italian offerings. “There’s a traditional
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
Italian dish, called vitello tonnato, that’s veal with a tuna sauce. We’re doing a take on it with a 16-ounce, heritage breed pork chop with a rosemary tonnato sauce, or an herbforward tuna sauce,” he says.
The maccheroni al pettine is another dish that really captures Cotto’s approach. The pasta takes about three hours to prepare by hand and then it’s paired with a pork ragù that was slow cooked for eight hours.
The menu is updated seasonally, although it’s anchored by a list of favorites like the spicy rigatoni and dry aged Porter steak for two. Standouts this spring include a blue
prawn appetizer and the halibut served with sweet peas and baby turnips.
Cotto recently began serving lunch, offering a menu focused on sandwiches made with homemade porchetta or black truffle ricotta. The warmer weather has also brought a sidewalk gelato cart on weekends, serving the same homemade flavors found on the dinner menu, as well as a few new summer-inspired flavors.
“We plan to keep evolving,” John says. “We want to keep growing, being inventive and creative, and offering people opportunities to celebrate and create memories in Morristown.”
A
Thrill of the Hunt
local social media influencer proves that vintage finds can have lots of modern style.
BY MY MO-TOWN STAFF
INTERVIEW WITH MIKE OF THE HOME UPDATE
ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA account The Home Update, married couple Mike and Garrett document the progress and “home updates” they make to their 101-year-old, New Jersey Dutch Colonial. While the couple doesn’t share their last name or their home’s location publicly, they do share lots of approachable DIY projects, home decorating inspiration, gardening tips and more to over 150,000 followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.
When they’re not working on projects at home, they spend their free time antiquing, thrifting, and browsing estate sales in search of unique, personality-filled pieces to add to their space.
This year, Mike teamed up with Michelle Lease, owner of The Ginger Jar (1007 Mt. Kemble Ave., thegingerjarshop.com), to expand the shop’s vintage offerings, curating a regularly refreshed collection inspired by years of treasure hunting. “The Home Update has brought such great energy to The Ginger Jar,” Lease says. “Mike’s eye for vintage is terrific, and I love the anticipation of seeing what unique finds he brings in each week—it adds such a special layer to the shop.”
Mike of The Home Update at The Ginger Jar
How do you find local estate sales?
I use dedicated websites like estatesales.net, and follow local estate sale companies and content creators, like myself, on social media. They often share preview photos and videos ahead of time so you can get a sense of what’s available before you even walk through the door.
Any favorite places to hunt in Morristown?
In addition to being a regular customer at The Ginger Jar, I love finding vintage home decor at The Big Green Barn, where everything is carefully curated by my friend Susan Brierly Bush. I also love thrifting vintage glassware at The Bargain Box, where all sale proceeds benefit The Morristown Medical Center.
What do you like most about shopping at estate sales or thrifting home goods? Why not just buy new? I’ve always loved the thrill of the hunt! Finding something with
character and a unique story behind it feels so much more meaningful than shopping at a big box store. I prefer to curate a home that feels collected and personal. I also feel a strong sense of responsibility to value the quality and craftsmanship of these older, vintage pieces, and to approach decorating in a more thoughtful and sustainable way.
The Home Update showcases lots of ways you’ve repurposed or upcycled the items you find. What are some of your favorites?
I love upcycling vintage silver plate bowls because they instantly elevate a space. They’re perfect for displaying a collection of matchbooks or serving candy or snacks when you’re entertaining, and they make the most sophisticated catchall for holding keys, remote controls, or other everyday items.
Top left: Tucked into a 1700s farmhouse on the Old Country Mile, The Ginger Jar offers a mix of vintage and classic home goods and gifts.
Top right: Mike curated this collection of vintage finds for sale at The Ginger Jar.
Bottom: Silver-plated champagne buckets have more uses than keeping you bubbly cold. They can also hold houseplants, fresh flowers, kitchen utensils, or even decorative objects like pinecones or collections of matchbooks.
Do you have any favorite finds?
Among my favorite finds are the three antique dental cabinets we’ve carefully sourced and restored over the years from vintage stores and Facebook Marketplace. They’re a fun and subtle nod to my husband Garrett’s profession as a dentist, and they bring both history and personality to our home. They’re slightly unexpected but still feel like they belong, since they date back 100+ years to the same decade that our house was built.
What should people know before going to their first estate sale?
All estate sales are different, but my best advice is to be respectful because you are in someone’s home.
Be prepared to wait in lines (especially on the first day) and bring cash since not all sales take credit cards or digital payment methods. Also, never be afraid to negotiate prices, especially if you plan on purchasing a lot of items!
Any “insider” tips for shopping at an estate sale or in a thrift store?
Don’t overlook something just because it’s dirty or tarnished. There are so many cleaning products on the market that can easily bring vintage pieces back to life with a little time and elbow grease. My preferred products are Bar Keeper’s Friend and Wright’s Silver Cream.
Estate sales tend to be multi-day events. Do you prefer to shop the first day or the last day of a sale?
Both! I only show up the first day if I have my eye on something specific from the sale preview photos. Otherwise, there’s something almost therapeutic about casually browsing with my husband on the second or last day of a sale. Even though the selection may be picked through, the prices are always discounted, and you can score the best deals. It’s our favorite weekend hobby.
Top: A bookcase in Mike and Garrett’s home styled with new and vintage items.
Bottom left: Mike and Garrett have found and restored three antique dental cabinets. This one sits in their kitchen.
Bottom right: Colorful blue-and-white chinoiserie and cabbageware plates are always in demand.
A premier NJ day camp for children ages 4–15. A premier NJ day camp for children ages 4–15.
Jeff Lake Camp has been curating unforgettable summers for generations. Set on an idyllic campus with a 50-acre private lake, it’s where campers spend their days trying activities they won’t find during the school year.
Highlights include: Highlights include:
Age-based programming | Sports, arts, & adventure
Kid-friendly lunch & transportation | Daily swim instruction in 5 heated pools
Join us for Future Laker Day on Saturday, July 11! Join us for Future Laker Day on Saturday, July 11! Save the Date: Save the Date:
Prospective families are invited to experience the energy of camp before next summer begins!
A Tribute to Fathers
Former MHS football players started the Colonial Cancer Foundation to pay tribute to their fathers by giving back to the community.
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
PHOTOGRAPH
BY EMMANUEL BRICE
tTHERE’S SOMETHING about all those hours spent together on the field, sharing big wins and heartbreaking losses, that creates special bonds among the players on high school football teams. But the men who played for Morristown High School in the early 2000s shared more than their glory days. They are bonded by something else: Many of them have lost their father to cancer.
Soon after Daniel Gallagher’s father passed away in April 2024, he realized that the fathers of quite a few former teammates had died of cancer. “I almost couldn’t believe so many of us from the same team have dealt with this same loss,” Gallagher says.
He decided he wanted to do something meaningful to honor all those remarkable fathers—the men who spent hours standing on the sidelines, supporting and cheering on their sons.
He gathered a group of his friends
Opposite page: Colonial Cancer Foundation Founders (from left): Matthew Gallagher, Matthew D’Agostino III, Timothy Murphy Jr., Daniel Gallagher, Robert Mazza, Conor Boucher, Derek Adair, Shawn Adair, Justin Adair, Smitty Horton
Above: Daniel Gallagher speaks at the Colonial Cancer Foundation Gala at The Grand Cafe PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN LONDONO PHOTOSHOOTS
Below: Colonial Cancer Society Board at their April 2026 gala PHOTOGRAPH BY JOHN LONDONO PHOTOSHOOTS
and former teammates for a drink on a cold Monday night in the middle of winter. “We put our heads together and pretty quickly had a list of seven fathers of former teammates who had passed away from cancer,” he says. “It’s something I really wish we didn’t share.”
The Colonial Cancer Foundation, named as a nod to their days playing MHS football, was born. The foundation’s goal is to support students affected by cancer and to give back to the community.
“It was 100% buy-in, right way, from all the guys we reached out to,” says Gallagher, who serves as president of the foundation. “Losing your father when you are young creates a unique bond.”
HONORING THEIR DADS
The group’s founders include Gallagher and his brother Matthew; Conor Boucher; brothers Derek, Shawn, and Justin Adair; Jon Gibbs; Timothy Murphy Jr.; Matthew D’Agostino III; and Robert Mazza, all of whom lost their fathers to cancer. Smitty Horton, who taught at Morristown High School and knew many of the young men, also became a founder.
Even though the men didn’t all graduate the same year, they played football together at some point during their high school careers. They also knew each other from growing up around football. “We were connected, since we played junior Colonials and Morristown football,” Gallagher says.
In honor of their fathers, who all placed a high value on education, the men decided a goal of the Colonial Cancer Foundation would be to offer a scholarship every year to one MHS graduating senior whose life had been affected by cancer.
Conor Boucher, Colonial Cancer Foundation founding board member and general manager of Glenbrook Brewery, at the foundation’s Family Festival. The brewery’s beer “The Cause” (right) raises money for the foundation.
“Cancer can mean that a family’s funds are stretched tight,” says Robert Mazza, vice president of the Colonial Cancer Foundation, whose father died in 2013. “It might be hard for the family to pay for tuition, books, or other expenses, and that could be a deterrent to a kid going to college. We don’t want that to happen. We want these kids to be able to keep moving in the right direction, and not have cancer, which impacts so much of the rest of their lives, keep them from getting an education.”
In 2025, in partnership with the Morristown Education Foundation, the first Colonial Cancer Scholarship of $10,000 was awarded to a graduating MHS senior. “It’s one of those things where we are happy to give the scholarship, but also
hope we don’t have to give out the scholarship,” Mazza says. “We don’t want any of these kids to have their lives touched by cancer.”
COMMUNITY FOCUSED
Their collective connection to the greater Morristown area was another big driving force behind the foundation and the scholarship, Gallagher says. “My parents wanted their kids to be able to afford to stay in Northern New Jersey after college, and a big part of making that possible is graduating from college without debt,” he says.
They also wanted to give back to Morristown. “It’s a place where people from every walk of life came together,” Mazza says. “Race, creed, none of it mattered. For us, we were all on the team and going through life together, and are still great friends. We are so thankful for our time together in Morristown that made that possible.”
The group hopes to continue to
grow, with the goal of increasing its scholarship to $10,000 per year for four years, or $40,000 per student. To raise funds, each spring the foundation holds a gala and each fall, a family festival that’s set up with a carnival-like atmosphere. They also joined forces with MHS student government for a No Shave November fundraiser. Glenbrook Brewery, of which foundation founding board member Conor Boucher is the general manager, recently launched a beer, The Cause, that raises money for the foundation.
“All these men, all our fathers, were great men in their own right,” Mazza says. “I feel like they would be proud of what we’ve accomplished in such a short amount of time. And we just hope to keep moving it forward and continuing to honor them.”
Learn more about the Colonial Cancer Foundation, including opportunities to donate or become a member of the foundation, at colonialcancer.com.
On the field in high school
Making Art That Makes Cents
At Morristown High School’s new Artisan Academy, creativity meets commerce.
iBY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
IT STARTED, LIKE many things at Morristown High School probably do, with social media. Ceramics and fine arts teacher Liz Ostendorp and industrial arts teacher Jim Boothby had started to notice that makerspaces—communal workshops, typically outfitted with shared 3D printers and other tools, where creators and artists can work on projects—were popping up all over their feeds, and they had an idea. Wouldn’t it be great to have a makerspace at MHS?
Jim Boothby and Liz Ostendorp
But the more they thought about it, the more they realized that they wanted more than a place where students could create.
“We wanted to do something different with arts education. We wanted students to think about designing something that people want to buy. It’s a very different process to the theoretical way art is usually taught,” Boothby says. “We wanted them to think about the development of the product and everything that goes into selling the product—taxes, packaging, photos,
marketing, marketing supplies, materials, shipping.”
They designed a curriculum to teach creative-minded students how to sell their products. “The goal is to teach kids how to start a business in a creative field, and hopefully graduate with a functioning business that is already making money,” Ostendorp says.
While MHS has a very successful art program, with high AP test scores and students attending art schools like The Cooper Union and Rhode Island School of Design, this
program is geared more towards kids who don’t plan on higher education.
Principal Mark Manning was all in. “We serve such a diverse audience here,” Manning says. “It’s incumbent on me to always be mindful that we are developing pathways that meet the needs and goals of every student here, and not every student wants to follow a traditional path and go to college.”
HONORING LAUREN AND EMILY
Around this same time, Frank and Kay Failla were working with the Morristown Education Foundation (MEF) to find a way to honor their daughters, Lauren and Emily Failla. The young women, both MHS graduates, passed away in separate, tragic accidents. The Lauren and Emily Failla Foundation (LEFF) honors their memory by supporting programs in the Morristown area related to their interests and talents. Lauren, in particular, was an artist who loved painting and ceramics.
Above: Morristown High School
Principal Mark Manning
Left: Student-created pieces in a ceramics classroom
“It all came together at the right moment,” Frank says. “We were so impressed by the enthusiasm of the teachers, who were so excited to offer new pathways for these talented and capable kids.”
In honor of Emily and Lauren, the LEFF donated the money to fully fund the new MHS Artisan Academy. “They are truly our partners in this,” Manning says. “It was rewarding working handin-hand with them to bring a program like this to fruition.”
“It came together like magic,” says Debble Sontupe, the MEF board chair. “There has been a wonderful partnership between the MEF, the school district, and the amazing generosity of the Faillas and the LEFF.”
LAUNCHING THIS FALL!
When the Artisan Academy officially launches in Fall 2026, students will follow a structured curriculum of art and business courses but also will work with mentors to develop and sell their products and have internship opportunities. Students interested in any art—from graphic design to creative writing to culinary arts—and in any grade at MHS are welcome at the Artisan Academy.
“Both sides of this course, the artistic training and the business and marketing skills, are equally important,” Manning says.
It will work like this: Let’s say there is a student who loves ceramics. Their coursework in the Artisan Academy would start by taking two levels of ceramics skills classes and some marketing classes. Then, they’ll take their ceramic skills and start thinking about what they’d like to sell. They’ll work to develop a logo, design product labels, and will
Clockwise from top: A selection of wooden bowls created by students; A 4x8-foot CNC router that cuts digital designs into 2D pieces that can be assembled to create 3D products; Wood ornaments made by students
Emily (left) and Lauren Failla COURTESY OF THE LAUREN AND EMILY FAILLA FOUNDATION
ART SHOW
Everyone is welcome to come check out the work of some impressive artists—and potential Artisan Academy students—at the annual Morristown High School Art and Design Show on June 3 at 6 p.m. “There’s a huge amount of talent here,” says MHS Principal Mark Manning.
even have the opportunity to sell their work at local markets and craft fairs. To fund startup costs, students will be able to borrow against what Ostendorp calls an enterprise fund. “It will be like seed money, and we will teach them to do bookkeeping and to pay that money back,” she says.
“A big piece of this is mentorship and apprenticeship,” Ostendorp says. “We will match the talents and interests of our students with the talents and interests of faculty, so students can learn side-by-side with an expert.”
For example, Ostendorp recently introduced a student interested in 3D printing to a computer-aided design (CAD) teacher at MHS and helped set up an internship opportunity. Or, she
explains, a business teacher with a background in fashion could be matched with a student looking to start a fashion line.
Eventually, the hope is to match students with local business owners and other working artists as mentors. “Morristown is so rich with people who are already successful in these fields,” she says.
The Artisan Academy “is part of our district ethos to keep the arts alive,” Manning says. “One of the slogans of Morristown High School is ‘World of Opportunities,’ and we want all students to see themselves on a pathway to success here.”
Boothby agrees. “The Artisan Academy will help students to hit the ground running after graduation.”
Above: Liz Ostendorp and MHS Principal Mark Manning in the school’s atrium
BBELIEVE IT OR NOT, Just Jersey is about more than a deep love of the Garden State. While that’s certainly a big part of the shop, it was born out of co-owner Tina Bologna’s desire for locally made, environmentally friendly, sustainable gifts.
It all started when her children’s school needed a fundraiser, and Bologna wasn’t happy with the options. “I really didn’t want them to sell wrapping paper or any of those things that people just end up throwing away,” she says. “I had friends who were artists making beautiful, highquality things, and I thought there must be a way to connect these artists with schools and the community.”
She started a catalog-based fundraising business focused on artisan-made, locally produced goods, which she ran for a few years. Then she started brainstorming with Paul Miller, another parent at her kids’ school, and the two decided to test the concept in a brick-and-mortar retail location.
They opened in 2014 as a holiday pop-up shop and haven’t looked back. In the beginning, the store had about 30 vendors. Today, Just Jersey sells high-quality goods from around 300 makers, artists, and small businesses— and there’s not a tchotchke in sight.
Gifting the Garden State
Just Jersey offers a curated collection of goods from local makers and artisans, along with a healthy dose of New Jersey pride.
BY CHRISTINE BOCKELMAN
While the original focus was on locally produced goods, pretty quickly customers began asking for items with a New Jersey theme. “It wasn’t really a pivot we expected,” Miller says. But they passed the requests onto their artists, who ran with the idea, providing the store with New Jerseyinspired chocolates, pasta, jewelry, cutting boards, and more.
While some of the items make clear references to local culture—depicting Taylor Ham or alluding to Jersey Girl sass—many others are simply made locally. For instance, there are pens that look like they are made from turned wood, but are really resin, and jewelry made from slices of colored pencils. “Our makers are from New Jersey, but they don’t have to limit
Tina Bologna and Paul Miller, owners of Just Jersey
themselves to products related to New Jersey,” Miller says.
CONNECTING ARTISTS AND BUYERS
A large part of the store’s mission is helping local artists find a marketplace for their work. “We are often the middle person between the artist and the client,” Miller says. “We are really happy to help local artists find a market for their goods.”
For example, the store has long sold New Jersey-shaped Christmas ornaments that are stamped with local town names. When the woman creating them wanted to move on to another venture, Miller and Bologna reached out to another ceramic artist to take over the business. “We order hundreds and hundreds at the holidays, and it was great that we could pass the business onto another artist,” Miller says.
Custom orders, like wedding favors, coasters emblazoned with local town names, or art calling out a meaningful location, are also big sellers. “We also do a lot of business
with local realtors, who comes to us for client gifts,” Bologna says.
Quite a bit of their business is from repeat customers, which presents a fun challenge for Bologna, who does much of the merchandising and store design. “We’re always looking at ways to keep the store fresh,” she says. “We want to always have new options, so our customers aren’t just seeing the same things over and over.”
KEEPING IT FRESH
To that end, Just Jersey is always testing new products. “It’s a winwin,” Bologna says. “We like to give new vendors an opportunity to sell their goods, and we like to give our customers new options.”
One big question, though: Do the owners of Just Jersey ever get tired of spending so much time focused on, well, just New Jersey? “Never,” Miller says, with a smile. “Not for a minute.”
Just Jersey is located at 163 South St. Visit justjerseygoods.com for more information or to shop online.
Just Jersey offers goods from more than 300 local artisans and makers.
Gifts for DADS & GRADS
Just Jersey has gifts to help you celebrate fathers and graduates, and to help them celebrate their love for the Garden State.
...needs a drop zone: A retired New Jersey license plate molded into a spot for keys and coins.
...enjoys cocktail night: Moscow mule cocktail infusion, The Sopranos-themed cocktail book, pretzels, New Jersey cuff links, keychain, and glass.
...enjoys a nice Whiskey: Engraved glasses with matching coasters in a keepsake wooden box. Also available as a set of shot glasses.
...wants a little piece of home close to her heart: a Garden State pendant on a 16inch chain. FOR THE DAD WHO...
THE GRAD WHO...
...has lots of school spirit: travertine coasters that can be customized for any college or university.
...moves far away: a soft place to land when they miss home.
...is a foodie: Gift box of New Jersey-made beef jerky, steak rub, taco sauce, and more.
...has Garden State pride: felt pennants perfectly sized to brighten dorm room walls.
Morristown resident with deep local and surrounding market knowledge resident
Smart pricing, preparation, and market strategies that create real demand preparation, market
Clear advice — even when it’s not what you expect
Trusted agent connections in any market you’re exploring beyond Morristown
Let’s have a proper chat — over tea! Ginge Calhoun | Morristown local
Take a Hike!
Or a ride, run, or stroll. Expand the benefits of your exercise routine by moving it outdoors to one of Morristown’s many parks.
BY KATE CHERICHELLO TENTE
IT’S NO SECRET that exercise is crucial for physical and mental wellbeing. But did you know that being out in nature provides additional benefits?
Studies have found that spending time outdoors is associated with a lower risk of depression, better sleep, a stronger immune system, and greater motivation to exercise.
Luckily for us locals, Morristown is bursting with options for outdoor recreation and exercise. Below are some of my favorites. Dogs are welcome at all but must be on leash.
Traction Line Recreation Trail
Jockey Hollow
HELLO READERS!
I’m Kate Cherichello Tente, a New Jersey native on a mission to share all the ways we can get and stay healthy here in our state. I host the streaming series “Healthy in the Garden State,” which highlights local wellness resources, expert insights, and practical health tips.
As an ACSM-certified Group Fitness Instructor and an ACE-certified Personal Trainer, I work with clients and lead workshops in-person, virtually, and in corporate wellness settings. With over 20 years of experience in the fitness and entertainment industries, I’ve performed on stages across the country and in an array of projects on camera.
I live in Morris County with my husband, toddler, and rescue pup. If you see me out exploring the greater Morristown area, say hello and let me know what you love about living here!
LOANTAKA BROOK RESERVATION
Loantaka encompasses more than 850 acres, offers wide trails, real bathrooms (a big deal when you’re with a toddler!), and ample parking. It even has an outdoor gym setup that makes it easy to add a strength workout to your run or walk. Trails range from 4.7 to 7.6 miles, but you can, of course, make an out-and-back adventure any length you choose. Loantaka Trail takes you through the Helen Harley Jenkins Woods, which ecologists have called one of the finest untouched forests in the country.
JOCKEY HOLLOW
The grounds at Jockey Hollow offer miles of hiking trails paired with historic interest. It’s a great park to put
the baby in a carrier and hike, or for the older kids to explore within a safe radius of their grown-ups. For an easy hike, try the Grand Parade Loop, which is 2.6 miles with an elevation gain of 328 feet. Those looking for a greater challenge will enjoy the 7.5-mile Grand Loop trail, which includes 1,000+ feet of elevation gain. Both options pass several historical points of interest.
TRACTION LINE RECREATION TRAIL
My husband and I have done many stroller runs here with our toddler. The scenery isn’t at the level of other parks on this list, but the paved trail allows for bike riding and in-line skating. It’s 2.7 miles one way (5.4 miles out and back) and takes you alongside the NJ Transit train lines between Madison and
If you have a wellness topic you’d like us to consider covering, please reach out to the editor at Christine.Bockelman@ wainscotmedia.com.
Morristown National Historical Park, passing Fairleigh Dickinson University, Convent Station and the College of St. Elizabeth.
LEWIS MORRIS COUNTY PARK
The largest park on this list, the activity options here are endless. With more than 2,000 acres, you can walk, run, bike, ride your horse, play a ball game— the list goes on. In addition, Sunrise Lake offers a chance for swimming and boating with day passes available for purchase. The park has 16 trails ranging from less than a mile to 4.56 miles. Two routes that are highly rated include the Green and Yellow Loop Trail (4.7 miles), which passes by the lake, and the Green, Pink Dot and Yellow Loop (2.8 miles).
Wick House at Jockey Hollow
BOOK NOOK
Summertime Reads
The Morristown & Morris Township Library offers a long list of clubs and activities.
BY MARY LYNN BECZA
THE MORRISTOWN & Morris Township Library
is more than just a place to check out books. It offers lots of opportunities for residents to meet, chat, and exchange ideas through programs and clubs. Many friendships have begun in the library over the years! Popular clubs include stamp collecting, needlework/ knitting, yoga, and chess. Of course, no library is complete without a book club—or, in our case, seven!
The library’s programs are free and open to everyone in the Morristown and Morris Township community. For more information, check out our events calendar at MMTLibrary.org or call 973538-6161. And don’t forget to sign up for our e-newsletter— it’s the best way to learn about new library events. Now, on to some book suggestions!
“KIN” by Tayari Jones
Jones captivated fiction readers with her four other acclaimed novels, including “An American Marriage,” which won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction. Her latest, “Kin,” follows two motherless best friends through the 1950s and 1960s.
“SELLING OPPORTUNITY: THE STORY OF MARY KAY”
by
Mary Lisa Gavenas
Praised by The Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly, this look at the life of cosmetics maven Mary Kathlyn Wagner, or “Mary Kay,” is based on 15 years of research. One of the most interesting rags-toriches stories of the 20th century!
“THE CHATEAU ON SUNSET”
by Natasha Lester
Historical fiction readers eagerly await anything by Lester, the popular author of “The Paris Secret” and “The Paris Seamstress.” Her
newest book offers a change from her usual European settings and characters, whisking readers to Hollywood, where the heroine navigates a complicated family and personal life in the 1950s.
“IT’S MY BIRD-DAY!” by Mo Willems
The preschool set will be laughing out loud alongside their parents at Willems’ newest Pigeon picture book. Readers of all ages will relate to Pigeon’s feelings about the best day of every child’s year.
“UNSETTLING SALAD” by Aaron Reynolds
Young chapter book readers (ages 6 to 9) will be on the edge of their seats with “Unsettling Salad,” the latest in the Jasper Rabbit’s Creep Tales series by the writerillustrator team of Reynolds and Peter Brown. Lots of innocent scary fun for kids who hate vegetables but love spooky stories!
Mary Lynn Becza is the assistant director of the Morristown & Morris Township Library.
BIG TREES, GRAND ESTATE
IN MID-APRIL, after a day of off-and-on spring showers, the gorgeous Colonial Revival mansion at Frelinghuysen Arboretum seemed to glow in the end-of-day sunshine. Known as Whippany Farm, the home was built in 1891 by Geroge & Sara Frelinghuysen. The Frelinghuysens spent 40 summers here, bequeathing the property to their daughter Matilda E. Frelinghuysen, who helped turn it into a public arboretum. In 1977, the Frelinghuysen Arboretum was entered on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places.
Today, the 124-acre arboretum features paved walkways and gardens bursting with more than 3,200 different species of flowering plants and trees. Notably, the arboretum is home to seven Champion Trees, defined as the largest of each species found in the state. Stop by the Haggerty Education Center and pick up a copy of “The Big Tree Tour” map or print one out online at morrisparks.net. This month don’t miss the three-inch white blooms on the Japanese Stewartia, a Champion Tree that’s 27-feet tall and has a 37-inch-wide trunk.
Have a fabulous Morristown photo?
Email it to the editor: Christine.Bockelman@ wainscotmedia.com.
It could be featured in an upcoming issue!
PHOTOGRAPH BY MY MO-TOWN STAFF
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